Preserve Marriage said they would like to thank people for “exercising their democratic right to be heard” at the demonstration on May 25th, and said “much attention has been paid to a highly offensive poster brought by a demonstrator,” and explained that the demonstrator covered up the most offensive part after being challenged about it, and said that in “no way does the spirit behind that sign represent Preserve Marriage and we do not condone it.”

The group said, “Preserve Marriage would like to thank the Bermudian people for boldly exercising their democratic right to be heard at the peaceful demonstration on Thursday, May 25th. Over 3,000 in attendance sent a clear message about our concerns for marriage and family in Bermuda.

“This included how we do not tolerate hate speech toward anyone and the fact that the LGBTQ community are our brothers and sisters whom we love as equals and friends. Little to none of what was said has been reported on.

1-hour live video replay of demonstration on May 25th, the video is 360° so you can use your mouse to move around the scene, and it also includes the audio of the address mentioned above

“Unfortunately, much attention has been paid to a highly offensive poster brought by a demonstrator with claims that the message met with our approval and that no one from Preserve Marriage or its supporters challenged him.

“The exact opposite is true. We were deeply saddened to see the poster and the demonstrator was challenged at least five times by PMBL leaders and nearby supporters alike.

“He simply refused to take it down until, after further challenges, he agreed to cover the most offensive part of the sign with one of our printed signs [see below picture]. In no way does the spirit behind that sign represent Preserve Marriage and we do not condone it.

“This is an emotional debate for many. We believe we can conduct it with decency and respect and will continue to do so.”

Well done preserve marriage. You worked hard to ensure a healthy debate and protest .As stated you asked the gentleman to remove They asked not once but many times to take it down and finally covered it. Well done.

I know, right? These American hatemongers, trying to force their hateful way of life onto us like they did in Uganda. It’s sickening. Bermudians must stand up and say “NO! We do not accept discrimination! We believe in equality!”

That IS what you were talking about, right?

Because the equality side? We’re talking about Bermudians trying to gain equal access to rights and ending baseless discrimination against citizens of this country.

When you talk about people coming to Bermuda to do whatever they want to justify their way of life, are you talking about America preacher Tony Evans, who Preserve Marriage are bringing in to “encourage all”?

You mean “not allow all of these Christian bigots who ignore the greatest commandment Jesus gave – (love one another as I have loved you) into our country.” I agree. I mean, after all, who would be so arrogant to think they know better than Jesus? Not you, SURELY, #have some backbone??

The people have allowed this to happen because you are WEAK. Same with de airport deal, so know you know how indigenous people felt centuries ago when their land and culture were threatened by invaders.

The issue is that Preserve Marriage wants to deny people equal access to rights and they have yet to offer a defendable reason to do so. They simply haven’t said WHY we should continue this discrimination. THAT is the issue.

“This included how we do not tolerate hate speech toward anyone and the fact that the LGBTQ community are our brothers and sisters whom we love as equals and friends. Little to none of what was said has been reported on.

So if you recognize people as your equals then you must be OK with them being married as your equals.

At the very least, they should be commended for the statement. I thing very few religious based hate groups would denounce someone they had gathered in their ranks. If the truly wanted to make a meaningful statement they would have ejected the person instead of saying just hide the offensive part.

How do you propose they eject someone on public grounds?? I’LL wait. The same freedom of speech you have to make remarks is the same freedom of speech the guy was exhibiting…though offensive. Its hilarious tell them they should not discriminate, but if someone is doing something in their presence that they dont agree with they should discriminate and eject them? Ok I get it. Only discriminate when its convenient. Thanks.

PM ought to admonish those who use those derogatory phrases right then and there, not just throw a fluffy press release weeks after the fact. Too many PM supporters feel perfectly okay using such offensive language on an every day basis.

I was. And I saw a lot of people patting this guy on the back and smiling at his sign and showing approval for it. What I didn’t see, not once, was anyone on the PM side showing any sort of disapproval towards him. They are rewriting reality, as usual.

also, if what you’re saying is true then can you please advise how they should have also ejected a bunch of the members of the LGBT community who were shouting profane, hateful threats at us in front of children and the elderly.

There are many people who encountered it. I didn’t videotape it. What’s interesting is how you claim people hate those in the SSM community simply for upholding their convictions for what they believe is best for society. It’s hate to you because you say so, apparently.

However when people share experiences they had you demand evidence or deem it an outright lie. In addition to some of the hateful language spewed by SOME (definitely not all) of those present, feel free to scroll through the many blogs and comments over the last few months and you’ll see some of what I’m referring to.

Aww, poor baby…the purpose of your entire clan is to prevent equality for all Bermudians….I hope you’re hurt, I’m glad you know you are hated by a large percentage of the population. I’m also happy that you will burn in hell….the bible says so.

“This included how we do not tolerate hate speech toward anyone and the fact that the LGBTQ community are our brothers and sisters whom we love as equals and friends”

If you love them as “equals” then surely you want them to receive all the benefits you receive including security for their families and loved ones? Guess what, they can only get that if they can get MARRIED!!!!!

To bad this same group does not use that same energy to fight gang violence. Something that is far worse with our young men killing each other, instead of poking their noses in other peoples business, people who just want to be with the person they love.

Yeah, you’d think that of all the things to destroy and damage the family unit, gun and knife crime would be of significance. But somehow, gay people getting marries represents the premier threat to heterosexual unions and the children of such unions. Figures.

It is interesting to note that this issue is going to become a political campaign issue as stated on a Bermuda radio station today.

In addition, Preserved Marriage appeared very uncomfortable with disclosing donations to their cause and begs the question – why the secrecy around donors and donations?

It would be helpful if all donations in the past two years for both Preserved Marriage and OUTBermuda became public, including all donation made through the Friends of the Bermuda Community Foundation that provided US tax payers a potential tax deduction for donations to these Bermuda causes.

Transparency and publication of all charitable and political donations would be helpful as we build a more civil society.

There is no government Wayne won’t be tabling any crap in July time to get married folks find your self a same sex partner this PM nonsense is bull crap and bermuda at its most ignorant and PM spend the money on bringing in a theologian and for Gods sake educate yourselves on the Bible………. I mean embarrassed eh eh

yes, two Bermudas. One holding us back one human right at a time. And the rest watching the world pass us by again. Between the phobias and the utter ignorance of a small group of people in our Island, I wonder sometimes of the people that advocate such hate knows how much this hurts their own family members, O wait everyone in their family conforms to the same ideologies and falls to the same deities. more rum